2024 Class Catalog

In 2024 we’re offering more classes than ever to support your outdoor rock climbing goals—from exploratory Open Climbs to Self-Rescue to Summer Camps for teens, the most-trusted certified, professional climbing instructors in the region are ready to guide the next step in your climbing journey. Not sure where to start? Browse our full catalog below, contact us, or buy a Gift Certificate!

What’s your next step?

Introductory Climbing Classes

Foundational skills for climbing outdoors

Our signature intro to climbing program is designed to get you on the rock right now—no matter your experience level! Classes are taught at Carderock, MD and Great Falls, VA by the most experienced team of certified rock climbing pros working in the region—experts with the know-how to guide any and everyone toward success.

PREREQUISITES: None

 
  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience necessary

    Get on the rock! Whether it’s your first time climbing or your first time outside, anyone can try climbing with expert guidance.

    Learn more and book

  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience necessary

    Get started rock climbing outdoors and build confidence and community in a supportive, inclusive environment

    Learn more and book

  • $75 (half day session) | Carderock MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience necessary

    Want more time on rock but not quite ready to dive into more technical classes? Our half-day open climb sessions are all about maximizing your climbing time, with routes set and belaying done by the pros so you can focus on the fun stuff.

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Intermediate Climbing Classes

Next steps for independent outdoor climbing

Learn technical skills and best practices to become your own guide and start climbing outdoors on your own with confidence. Day classes are taught at Carderock, MD; Great Falls, VA; or Annapolis Rock, MD by the most experienced team of certified pros working in the region.

PREREQUISITES: Top rope climbing and belay experience recommended

 
  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | Top rope climbing and belay experience recommended

    Hone your footwork and movement skills for smooth, confident climbing on real rock—and become as comfortable climbing outdoors as you do at the gym.

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  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | Top rope climbing and belay experience recommended

    Begin learning the technical systems of climbing and learn to build strong, solid top rope anchors—the first step toward becoming an independent outdoor climber

    Learn more and book

  • $145 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope climbing and belay experience recommended

    A great day at the crag can go wrong in an instant. Learn the core self-rescue skills that should be in every outdoor climber’s toolkit

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  • $75 (half day session) | Carderock MD or Great Falls, VA | Top rope anchor building experience required

    Already know the ropes of building top rope anchors but want a review or an expert check? Drop in to an open half-day lab to build unlimited anchors with our our professional guides, gain hands-on practice in real-world situations, and head out on your own with confidence.

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  • $400 (2 days) | Coopers Rock, WV | Top rope experience recommended

    Combine our signature Top Rope Anchors and Intermediate Technique and Movement classes in an all-in-one climbing and camping trip to one of the region’s most beautiful crags

    Learn more and book

Advanced Climbing Classes

Dreaming of big objectives?

Go deep with the most comprehensive technical rock climbing curriculum in the region—from your first steps into trad climbing to advanced self-rescue skills for confident, creative independent climbing. Classes are taught at Carderock, MD; Great Falls, VA; and Annapolis Rock, MD by the most experienced team of certified pros working in the region.

PREREQUISITES: Top rope climbing experience required for all classes; other experience required varies

 
  • $165 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope anchor building proficiency required

    Go beyond the basics with advanced climbing systems for top-belayed sites—whether you’re interested in broadening your top rope trip options or refining your trad and/or multi-pitch systems.

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  • $165 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Prepare for the sharp end with a comprehensive introduction to trad climbing—a key skill for climbers looking for big adventure

    Learn more and book

  • $165 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Ready to see the bigger picture? Learn and practice the essential skills and systems you need for multi-pitch trad and sport climbing

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  • $165 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rocks, MD | Self-rescue fundamentals required

    Hands-on practical learning for complex multi-pitch rescue, which requires not only concrete skills but the critical thinking and problem-solving to combine them.

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  • $400 | Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Experience an immersive backcountry trad climbing and camping trip at one of Maryland’s most beautiful locations! Backpack in along the Appalachian Trail and learn the foundations of trad and multi-pitch climbing in a two-day immersive on the steep, tall white quartzite of Annapolis Rocks.

    Learn more and book

  • $330 | Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Spend a full weekend immersed in hands-on practical learning of self-rescue systems and skills—from simple core skills to complex multi-pitch rescue

    Details coming soon—contact us with questions!

Women's Events

Chase your goals and build community

Whether you’re trying rock climbing for the first time or pursuing highly technical objectives, our signature women’s events are led by certified, professional female and non-binary guides focused on creating an inclusive space to learn new skills, build confidence, and meet new partners.

PREREQUISITES: Varies by class

 
  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience necessary

    Get started rock climbing outdoors and build confidence and community in a supportive, inclusive environment

    Learn more and book

  • $145 | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | Top rope climbing and belay experience recommended

    Begin learning the technical systems of climbing and learn to build strong, solid top rope anchors—the first step toward becoming an independent outdoor climber

    Learn more and book

  • $165 | Great Falls, VA or Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Prepare for the sharp end with a comprehensive introduction to trad climbing—a key skill for climbers looking for big adventure

    Learn more and book

  • A great day at the crag can go wrong in an instant—learn the technical skills and assessment framework to manage challenging situations and get everyone back to ground safely.

    Learn more and book

Weekend Road Trips

Plan less…climb more!

Escape the city and immerse yourself in full weekends of climbing, instruction, and fun with our signature Road Trips.

PREREQUISITES: Varies by class

 
  • $400 (2 days) | Coopers Rock, WV | Top rope experience recommended

    Combine our signature Top Rope Anchors and Intermediate Technique and Movement classes in an all-in-one climbing and camping trip to one of the region’s most beautiful crags

    Learn more and book

  • $400 | Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Experience an immersive backcountry trad climbing and camping trip at one of Maryland’s most beautiful locations! Backpack in along the Appalachian Trail and learn the foundations of trad and multi-pitch climbing in a two-day immersive on the steep, tall white quartzite of Annapolis Rocks.

    Learn more and book

  • $310 | Annapolis Rock, MD | Top rope experience required

    Spend a full weekend immersed in hands-on practical learning of self-rescue systems and skills—from simple core skills to complex multi-pitch rescue

    Book Part 1: Self-Rescue Fundamentals

    Book Part 2: Advanced Climbing Rescue

Summer Camps

An adventure like no other…

Our signature teen camps are outdoor enrichment adventures for enthusiastic climbers ages 13-17 to hone their climbing skills on real rock, build confidence and outdoor leadership skills, and connect with the natural world on an unplugged road trip adventure to the area's best crags. We are proud to offer two camps this year, one for team climbers and one for all motivated teens interested in discovering adventure beyond the gym.

We also offer a summer day camp for younger climbers interested in exploring outdoor climbing closer to home!

PREREQUISITES: Top rope climbing experience required

 
  • $1,695 per camper (7 days) or $2195 (11 days) | New River Gorge, WV | Ages 13-17 | Top rope climbing experience required

    Our team kid road trip is an outdoor enrichment adventure for kid crushers to log time on the world-class boulders and sport climbs of the New River Gorge. This is a trip for serious climbers—we’ll focus on the technical systems and safety skills of outdoor climbing, technique and footwork coaching for real rock, and bouldering and sport climbing tactics—making the week a one-of-a kind opportunity for enthusiastic teen climbers to get even stronger while connecting with the outdoors.

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  • $1245 per camper (5 days | Seneca Rocks, WV | Ages 13-17 | Top rope climbing experience required

    Our teen summer camp is a unique multi-pitch climbing adventure road trip to a favorite West Virginia climbing destination: Seneca Rocks. With plenty of climbing time, hiking, exploration, and more, our signature road trip is a one-of-a kind opportunity for enthusiastic teen climbers to build skills and confidence and connect with the outdoors.

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  • $695 per camper (3 days | Coopers Rock, WV | Ages 13-17 | Indoor bouldering experience required

    New for 2023, our bouldering intensive is a chance for young climbers to build technique, confidence, and skills for trying and sending hard outdoors on the gritty overhangs of Coopers Rock, WV.

  • Our summer day camp is a unique chance for kids 9-12 to experience the fun and freedom of climbing, rappelling, and adventuring outdoors!

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Instructor Training

Run your summer camp, youth group, or Scout troop climbing trips with confidence

Our Top Rope Instructor Leadership Certification prepares trip leaders to facilitate successful climbing outings and handle emergencies to the standards set by the State of Maryland for youth climbing instructors

PREREQUISITES: Top rope experience recommended

 
  • $400 (2 days instruction and 1/2 day exam) | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | Top rope experience recommended

    East Outdoors is proud to offer a streamlined, affordable Top Rope Instructor Leadership Certification program designed to teach best practices and hands-on skills for organizations to facilitate their own successful top rope climbing events with young climbers.

    Learn more and book

Private Guiding and Custom Events

Tailor-made days out, designed around your goals

From one-on-one private instruction to custom events of any size, our certified pros have the experience to facilitate a day that meets your needs.

PREREQUISITES: Top rope experience recommended

 
  • Carderock, MD; Annapolis Rock, MD; or Great Falls, VA | No experience required!

    Learn more, climb more with private guiding by our professional, certified instructors—whether you’re looking for one-on-one instruction or a custom-tailored experience for small groups, East Outdoors guides have the local knowledge and experience to deliver a successful day for all experience levels.

    Learn more and book

  • Starting at $90/per person | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience required!

    Celebrate a birthday or achievement in unique style—with an outdoor rock climbing party facilitated by experienced, certified guides for minimal stress and maximum fun.

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  • Pricing dependent on group size | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience required!

    School and youth groups of any size can tackle fresh new challenges with an outing facilitated by East Outdoors. Our professional, certified guides provide a safe, fun day of activity, teamwork, and experiential learning where students of all ages and fitness levels can build confidence, develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and find success overcoming challenges.

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  • Starting at $90/per person (half day) | Carderock, MD or Great Falls, VA | No experience required!

    Fresh air, fresh challenges, fresh rapport—bring your team out for an expertly managed and facilitated group climbing outing with our pro guides to nurture community and camaraderie within your organization.

    Learn more and book